Looks like I'll be a teacher a bit longer. An opportunity has come up that I didn't think ever would. As much turnover as there is with assistants and special subject teachers at this school, a homeroom position almost never becomes available.
My evaluation with our head of school was yesterday. We talked about my strengths, my recent struggles, my discomfort with advanced math that I never trained for... and how strange and unpredictable my schedule has become. She communicates to me that I'm an asset and she wants to keep me--and she wants me to be in a place where I feel happier.
Anyway, long story longer--a 3rd grade teacher is leaving in May, and she wants me to take the spot. She said I could take the Mardi Gras holiday to think about it, but I'm pretty sure I'll take it.
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Pros:
1) My biggest issue with this job right now is that I don't like my planning time being taken away. I'm at a lot of people's beck and call simply because I'm a one subject teacher. One subject, but 3 grades... As a homeroom teacher, I would have a more rigid schedule with less planning time--time I'd be allowed to make the most of.
2) I'd get to read to kids again--and to teach them to enjoy literature. I miss that so much.
3) Parent interaction. One of my worries about moving out of a teaching career is how little I get to interface with other adults sometimes. This way I'm guaranteed a meeting with most of my students' parents. I get to practice talking to grownups again.
4) Grade level work is highly collaborative. I have a pretty good idea about who's leaving, and if I'm right, I get to work with one of my favorite people at this school. And if not, I'm still ok with the change.
5) The standards I need to meet are more clearly-defined. With Science I have national and state standards to refer to, but there's so much information that I have a scary amount of freedom that I never felt comfortable with. I like the idea of having parameters, especially since this school is so flexible in how I get to teach.
6) I'll get to spend more time with a group and really bond.
Cons:
1) More work functions that I have to attend.
2) I'll have to really learn how to hold my pee.
3) I'll miss getting to know three grade levels' worth of kids.
4) I will miss science a bit.
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Sorry that was a lot to read... but I am actually pretty excited.
. Photoshop nerding to follow!
